Article carrier

ABSTRACT

A carrier for packaging a plurality of flanged articles arranged in coincidental tiers wherein each tire includes at least two articles having flanges at their upper ends which are interconnected and wherein the carrier comprises an open ended tubular structure having top and side panels together with a retaining strap interconnected at its ends with the side panels. A retaining flap is disposed on each side edge of the retaining strap and is joined thereto along a fold line so that the retaining flaps engage the side walls of adjacent articles in the lower tier and also the lower surfaces of the interconnected flanges of the articles in the lower tier to hold those articles within the package. Article holding means may be disposed at the corners of the carrier and serves to engage cutaway areas at the junction between interconnected flanges and thus prevents dislodgment of the articles in the upper tier through the open ends of the wrapper.

United States Patent 1191 Calvert 1 1 Dec. 2, 1975 [73] Assignee: The Mead Corporation, Dayton,

Ohio

22 Filed: Oct.2l, 1974 21 Appl.No.:5l6,305

Related US. Application Data [621 Division of Scrv No, 397,166, Sept. 14, 1973, Pat.

FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS France 229/40 United Kingdom 229/40 France 206/194 Primary ExaminerDavis Tv Moorhead Attorney, Agent, or FirmWalter M, Rodgers 57 ABSTRACT A carrier for packaging a plurality of flanged articles arranged in coincidental tiers wherein each tire includes at least two articles having flanges at their upper ends which are interconnected and wherein the carrier comprises an open ended tubular structure having top and side panels together with a retaining strap interconnected at its ends with the side panels. A retaining flap is disposed on each side edge of the retaining strap and is joined thereto along a fold line so that the retaining flaps engage the side walls of adjacent articles in the lower tier and also the lower surfaces of the interconnected flanges of the articles in the lower tier to hold those articles within the package. Article holding means may be disposed at the corners of the carrier and serves to engage cutaway areas at the junction between interconnected flanges and thus prevents dislodgment of the articles in the upper tier through the open ends of the wrapper.

3 Claims, 7 Drawing Figures atant Dec. 2, 1975 Sheet 1 of 2 3,923,236

US. Patent Dec. 2, 1975 Sheet 2 of2 3,923,236

F2 I l4 3 I 2 I9 I 3 FIG. 5

HA 3o 42 34 33 i 11 I g5 3| 22A 24A. 3s I 5A 44 32]F-- f i 18 I ISA 14A 3ev1 "37 23A 25A \4: rm! 20A ARTICLE CARRIER This is a division of application Ser. No. 397,166, filed Sept. 14, 1973, now US. Pat. No. 3,861,530.

Containers for fruit juice, puddings and the like which include a body portion in the shape of a cup having a flange at its upper end ordinarily are formed, filled and sealed in such a way that the packages are arranged in groups with their flanges interconnected along perforated fold lines. Such groupings may constitute a single pair or any other desired arrangement such as two rows of two packages each, two rows of three, four or five packages each or a greater number of rows of a desired number of containers. Ordinarily such containers are smaller than an ordinary drinking glass and in order to provide for efficient handling during shipment and display in retail outlets, it is desirable to stack the articles in tiers one above another.

In accordance with one form of this invention, an economical carrier is provided which takes advantage of the flanged connections between two or more articles and provides a package in which at least two articles having interconnected flanges at their upper ends are stacked in tiers with one pair of articles atop another pair and the carrier simply constitutes a top panel which overlies the tops of the articles in the top tier together with side panels which are interconnected at their upper edges to the opposite side edges of the top panel and which extend to a level adjacent the flanges of the articles in the lower tier together with a retaining strap which is interconnected at its ends to the lower edges of the side panels and which extends between the side walls of a pair of articles in the lower tier and which is disposed below the interconnected flanges of the top flanges of the articles in the lower tier. Retaining flaps are foldably joined to the side edges of the retaining strap and engage the articles.

For a better understanding of the invention reference may be had to the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an assembled carrier formed according to the invention and in which the lower portions of the articles in the lower tier are broken away for simplicity and clarity; FIG. 2A is a side view of a pair of primary containers having flanges at their upper ends which are interconnected; FIG. 2B is a plan view of the arrangement shown in FIG. 2A; FIG. 3 is a plan view of a blank from which the carrier is formed as shown in FIG. 1; FIG. 4 is a side view of .the carrier shown in FIG. 1; FIG. 5 is a cross sectional view taken along the line designated 55 in FIG. 4; and in which FIG. 6 is a plan view of a blank constructed according to a modification of the invention.

In the drawings C1 designates a container which is interconnected with a similar container C2 via the flanges F1 and F2 along a perforated junction line L. In use it may be desirable to separate container C 1 from container C2 by simply severing the flange F1 from the flange F2 along the line L.

As is apparent in FIGs. 1, 4 and 5, on tier of containers such as C1 and C2 is disposed atop another tier of similar containers designated C3 and C4 and in coincidental relationship therewith. The arrangement as shown in FIGS. 1, 4 and 5 constitute a secure package because the two tiers are secured in place and main tained as a group by the carrier blank shown in FIG. 3 which includes a top panel 1 having a locking tab 2 foldably joined to a side edge thereof along fold line 3 together with a side panel 4 which is foldably joined to a side edge of top panel 1 along fold line 5. A retaining strap 6 is interconnected at one end 7 with the bottom edge of side panel 4 and at its other end retaining strap 6 is interconnected along fold line 8 with the bottom edge of side panel 9. A lap panel 10 is foldably joined along a fold line 11 with the upper edge of side panel 9.

The carrier as shown in FIGS. 1, 4 and 5 is assembled by simply stacking the tiers of containers one atop another as shown and by securing the carrier blank of FIG. 3 in position with the top panel 1 disposed atop the tops of articles C1 and C2 and overlying their flanges and with the side panels 4 and 9 disposed alongside the side walls of containers C1 and C2, the retaining strap 6 being interposed between articles C3 and C4 and beneath the interconnected flanges F3 and F4.

For the purpose of interconnecting the ends of the carrier blank, a locking aperture designated by the numeral 12 is formed in side panel 9 by striking from that panel a pair of retaining tabs 13 and 14 which are foldably joined to side panel 9 and to lap panel 10 along fold line 15 and 11 respectively. Thus with the parts asser nbled as shown in FIGS. 1, 4 and 5 the locking tab 2 is simply driven through the aperture 12 and maintained at a desired angle by the retaining tabs 13 and 14 as is best shown in FIG. 5. This locking structure occupies the notch N1 best shown in FIG. 2B and serves to aid in holding containers Cl and C2 within the wrapper.

Along the opposite edge of top panel 1, holding means generally designated by the numeral 16 is provided and occupies the notch N2 to aid in holding the containers Cl and C2 against dislodgment through the open ends of the wrapper. Holding means 16 comprises a holding panel 17 struck from side panel 4 and foldably joined thereto along fold line 18 together with holding panel 19 struck from a top panel 1 and foldably joined thereto along fold line 20. Holding panels 18 and 19 are foldably joined to each other along fold line 21 which with the parts occupying a flat plane as shown in FIG. 3 is coincident with the fold line 5. When the wrapper is assembled as shown in FIGS. 1, 4 and 5, holding means 16 is folded inwardly so that holding panel 19 extends downwardly from the top panel 1 while holding panel 17 extends inwardly and in angular relationship to the side panel 4.

For the purpose of engaging the side walls and flanges of containers C3 and C4, a pair of retaining flaps 22 and 23 are foldably joined to the side edges of retaining strap 6 along arcuate elliptical fold lines 24 and 25 respectively. Of course the strap 6 is disposed underneath the interconnected flanges F3 and F4 and as is clearly shown in FIG. 4 serves to secure the containers C3 and C4 in place within the wrapper. As is apparent in FIG. 5 the end portions 28 and 29 of flap 23 snugly engage the lower surface of flange F4 and thus aid in securing the lower tier of articles snugly in position within the wrapper. Similarly end portions 26 and 27 of flap 22 engage flange F3.

The dimension X in FIG. 3 represents the narrowest width of strap 6 and this dimension generally corresponds to the distance X in FIG. 4 between containers C3 and C4.

The modification of the invention as represented by the blank shown in FIG. 6, is similar in all essential respects to the blank shown in FIG. 3. The modification of FIG. 6 differs in that the retaining flap 22A is foldably joined to the side edges of retaining strap 6A along a straight fold line 24A and one end of retaining flap 22A is interconnected with the side wall 9A by a web panel 30 which is foldably joined along fold line 31 to an end of retaining flap 22A and to side wall 9A along a fold line 32. At the other end of retaining flap 22A, a web panel 33 is interconnected with the retaining flap 22A along fold line 34 and with side wall 4A along a fold line 35.

In like fashion retaining flap 23A is interconnected with side wall 9A by a web panel 36 which is foldably joined along fold line 37 to one end of retaining flap 23A and to side wall 9A along a fold line 38. At the other end, retaining flap 23A is foldably joined to web panel 39 along fold line 40 and web panel 39 is foldably joined along a fold line 41 to side wall 4A.

For the purpose of engaging the flanges of the pri mary packages of the lower tier in a package having four or some greater even number of cups per tier, a pair of retaining tabs 42 and 43 are used and are integral with or secured to the outer edges of retaining flaps 22A and 23A respectively. These retaining tabs are inserted into the apertures designated N1 and N2 which taken together define composite apertures into which tabs 42 and 43 protrude. Preferably tabs 42 and 43 are constructed with tapered side edges which aid in guiding the tabs into a composite opening N1, N2. The tabs 42 and 43 when captured in apertures N1, N2 hold the flaps 22A and 23A against sidewise collapse and thus strengthen the retaining strap 6A. For some applications of the invention the tabs 42 and 43 are not used.

The blank of FIG. 6 is manipulated into package forming relation with the primary packages as described above in connection with FIGS. 1-5 inclusive. An aperture designated by the numeral 44 is disposed astride the fold line 11A and a similar aperture 45 is disposed astride the fold line 3A. When the locking tab 2A is driven through the aperture defined by retaining tab 14A, the apertures 44 and 45 are in close proximity to each other and are in substantial coincidence. These apertures at one corner of the package correspond in a general way with the aperture formed when holding tabs 17A and 19A are folded inwardly thus affording an element of symmetry to the appearance of the package and also serving as a means for holding the primary packages within the wrapper.

If desired a finger gripping aperture 46 may be formed in top panel 1 to facilitate carrying the package where the package includes eight or more articles.

From the above description it is apparent that by the invention a minimum of material is required to form the carrier and that optimum advantage is taken of the flanged arrangement of the primary containers in order to form a secure and economical package.

The embodiments of the invention in which an exclusive property or privilege is claimed are defined as follows:

1. An article carrier blank comprising a top panel, a locking tab foldably joined to one side edge of said top panel, a first side panel foldably joined to the opposite side edge of said top panel, holding tabs struck from said top panel and said first side panel respectively adjacent the fold line therebetween, said holding tabs being foldably joined to each other, a retaining strap foldably joined to the edge of said first side panel remote from said top panel, retaining flaps foldably joined to the side edges of said retaining strap, a second side panel foldably joined to the end of said retaining strap remote from said first side panel, a retaining tab struck from said second side wall remote from said retaining strap to define a locking aperture, said retaining tab being foldably joined along an edge of said locking aperture, and a lap panel foldably joined to said second side wall along an edge thereof remote from said retaining strap.

2. A blank according to claim 1 wherein the fold lines adjoining said retaining flaps to said retaining strap are of arcuate configuration.

3. A blank according to claim 1 wherein a web panel is foldably joined to each end of each retaining flap and to the adjacent side wall. 

1. An article carrier blank comprising a top panel, a locking tab foldably joined to one Side edge of said top panel, a first side panel foldably joined to the opposite side edge of said top panel, holding tabs struck from said top panel and said first side panel respectively adjacent the fold line therebetween, said holding tabs being foldably joined to each other, a retaining strap foldably joined to the edge of said first side panel remote from said top panel, retaining flaps foldably joined to the side edges of said retaining strap, a second side panel foldably joined to the end of said retaining strap remote from said first side panel, a retaining tab struck from said second side wall remote from said retaining strap to define a locking aperture, said retaining tab being foldably joined along an edge of said locking aperture, and a lap panel foldably joined to said second side wall along an edge thereof remote from said retaining strap.
 2. A blank according to claim 1 wherein the fold lines adjoining said retaining flaps to said retaining strap are of arcuate configuration.
 3. A blank according to claim 1 wherein a web panel is foldably joined to each end of each retaining flap and to the adjacent side wall. 